Belt Parkway Bleeds. Ocean Avenue Mourns.

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 5 - Two sedans collided at Avenue X and East 21st. A 52-year-old passenger suffered leg injuries. Police cite failure to yield and driver inexperience. The crash left one hurt and others shaken.

Two sedans crashed at Avenue X and East 21st in Brooklyn. A 52-year-old woman riding as a front passenger was injured, suffering pain and leg trauma. According to the police report, both 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the collision. The crash involved two licensed male drivers, ages 30 and 57, and left one passenger hurt while others reported shock or unspecified injuries. The report does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. Systemic driver errors led to harm for a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820012 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 2 - A bus hit an 87-year-old man crossing Avenue Z in Brooklyn. The pedestrian had the signal. The bus was turning left. The man was knocked unconscious, hurt across his body. Police cite failure to yield. The street stayed dangerous.

An 87-year-old man was struck by a bus while crossing Avenue Z at East 12th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection when the bus, making a left turn, hit him. The man suffered injuries to his entire body and was found unconscious. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The bus driver and occupants were not reported injured. The report does not mention any helmet or signal violations by the pedestrian. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to people walking in city crosswalks when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817517 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 28 - An SUV hit a woman crossing Oriental Boulevard. She walked with the signal. The driver failed to yield. The crash left the pedestrian hurt, her leg bloodied. Police cite driver distraction and inattention. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 68-year-old woman was struck by a Mercedes SUV while crossing Oriental Boulevard at West End Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was in the intersection, crossing with the signal, when the SUV, driven by a 77-year-old woman, made a left turn and hit her. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with abrasions reported. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver and a passenger, both 77, were not reported as injured. The police report makes clear: the driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian’s actions were not cited as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 27 - Two cars slammed together on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. Three men hurt, necks wrenched. No clear cause. The road stayed hungry. The city kept moving.

A station wagon and a sedan collided on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Three men suffered neck injuries, including both drivers and a passenger. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight when the crash occurred. The station wagon was struck at the center back end, while the sedan took damage to its center front end. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were identified in the data. All injured occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. The crash left three people with whiplash and pain, but the police report offers no further explanation for the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815862 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 27 - Canarsie residents rallied for a ferry. They want out of the transit desert. Council Member Narcisse pledged a bill for a new dock. Advocates pressed the mayor. Streets stay dangerous. The city stalls. Vulnerable road users still wait.

On May 27, 2025, Canarsie residents and advocates gathered to demand a ferry dock linking their neighborhood to Manhattan. City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse announced plans to introduce a bill mandating ferry service for Canarsie, citing 'a transportation desert' and the need for better connections. Jibreel Jalloh, leading the rally, said, 'We must bridge this gap and demand the connectivity we deserve.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams backed the call, while Sheryl Boyce stressed the need for accessible transit. City Hall said there are no current plans for a new line. According to safety analysts, adding a ferry route mainly improves transit access; without better walking or biking links to the dock, the impact on vulnerable road users remains minimal.

• Canarsie residents rally to bring ferry service to ‘transportation desert’, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-05-27

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 21 - Council Member Inna Vernikov forced DOT to pause bike lanes in Sheepshead Bay. Years of planning stalled. Cyclists and pedestrians left exposed. Community support ignored. Streets stay hostile. Safety delayed. Danger remains.

On May 21, 2025, Council Member Inna Vernikov intervened to halt the NYC Department of Transportation's plan for painted bike lanes in Southern Brooklyn's Community Board 14. The project, four years in the making, aimed to address high crash rates and poor bike network coverage. Vernikov announced, 'Happy to say as a result of our conversations and advocacy, @NYC_DOT is PAUSING implementation of bike lanes.' Despite near-unanimous community board support and DOT's safety pledges, Vernikov opposed the project, calling it a 'woke agenda.' Only a portion of the lanes will proceed. Safety analysts warn: 'Opposition to even basic bike infrastructure like painted lanes discourages mode shift, reduces safety in numbers, and maintains street conditions that are inequitable and dangerous for vulnerable road users.' Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

• Proudly Anti-Safety: Brooklyn Pol Boasts of Getting DOT To ‘Pause’ Long Promised Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-21

May 15 - SUV turned left on Knapp Street. E-scooter struck. Fourteen-year-old rider ejected, leg fractured. Police cite driver inattention. System failed to protect the young.

A station wagon/SUV making a left turn on Knapp Street collided with a southbound e-scooter. The fourteen-year-old male e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered a fractured leg. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The SUV driver, a forty-six-year-old woman, was not seriously hurt. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention. The e-scooter rider was not using safety equipment, but police first cite driver inattention as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812953 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 15 - A Mercedes turned left onto Rutland Road. The car struck Maurette Lafleur, 68, in the crosswalk. Medics rushed her to the hospital. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. The street stayed open. The danger stayed.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E. 94th St. in East Flatbush. The article states, "Maurette Lafleur was in the crosswalk...when the driver of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz slammed into her." Police said the 64-year-old driver was turning left from E. 95th St. onto Rutland Road when the crash occurred. Lafleur was transported to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and raises questions about intersection safety and left-turn protocols.

• Mercedes Driver Kills Woman In Crosswalk, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 14 - SUV and sedan collided on Belt Parkway. Brakes failed. Two drivers and a passenger injured. Metal twisted. Shock and pain followed. System failed them.

Two vehicles, a BMW SUV and a Volkswagen sedan, crashed on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, 'Brakes Defective' was listed as a contributing factor. Two drivers and a 61-year-old passenger suffered injuries, including back pain and shock. The impact struck the center front of the sedan and the center rear of the SUV. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention any victim error. The system failed to prevent harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813414 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 14 - Victims and advocates marched to Albany. They demanded action for safer streets. Lawmakers split on bills: some backed speed controls, others balked. The Senate killed an anti-congestion bill. The fight for vulnerable lives pressed on, urgent and raw.

On May 14, 2025, victims of road violence and Families for Safe Streets lobbied at the State Capitol for the SAFE Streets Package. This package includes the 'Idaho stop' bill and the 'Stop Super-Speeders' bill. The event saw support from several Assembly members and a senator for speed controls, while Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Assembly Member Michael Novakhov opposed the super speeder bill, citing government overreach. Sen. Leroy Comrie opposed the Idaho stop bill, citing concerns for seniors. Separately, Senate bill S533, which aimed to block congestion pricing, was defeated in the Senate Transportation Committee. Chair Jeremy Cooney stressed, 'You have to have a plan. If you don’t have a plan, what are [you] doing to get the $15 billion revenue?' The day highlighted the rift between safety demands and political resistance, with victims' voices at the center.

• Pain Points: Victims of Road Violence Make Annual Pilgrimage to Demand Safe Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14

May 10 - A bus hit a sedan’s rear on Emmons Avenue. One passenger suffered a bruised leg. Impact was hard and sudden. Streets stayed open. No cause named. The city moved on.

A bus and a sedan collided on Emmons Avenue at Coyle Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the bus struck the sedan’s left rear bumper. One male passenger, age 57, in the sedan suffered a knee and lower leg injury, listed as a contusion. Other occupants, including both drivers, were not reported injured. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling west. No helmet or signal issues were cited. The crash left one person hurt and raised questions about safety on this busy stretch.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811546 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 6 - A principal drove down Lenox Road, lost control, hit parked cars, and flipped his vehicle. Police pulled him from the wreck. He refused a Breathalyzer. Charges followed. The street bore the scars. The system let him drive. The danger stayed.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-06), Gregory Jackson, principal of Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, crashed on Lenox Road near Utica Ave. Police say he struck several parked cars and overturned his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Jackson told police he had 'only one drink.' He refused a Breathalyzer test at the scene. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing the test. The Department of Education referred questions to the NYPD. The incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired drivers and the vulnerability of anyone near city streets, even when parked. Systemic gaps allow such danger to persist.

• Principal Overturns Car In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01